MBA | Houston

McCombs Admissions Process

The Texas MBA at Houston Admissions Committee dedicates itself to a meticulous, holistic review of each application. Our ultimate objective is to get a firm sense of each applicant as a person in order to determine if you are a good fit for McCombs - and to be sure that McCombs is a good fit for you.

Important Steps during McCombs Admissions Process

Review the key steps below for information about the MBA admissions process.

Before Applying

Get a UT EID

Get your UT EID. A UT EID is an electronic identifier that lets prospective and current students connect to their university information. Your EID offers access to legally protected information and is permanent. You will use it throughout the application and enrollment process to access information and complete tasks online.

If you have already created one, you can also look up your UT EID. You will have a UT EID on file if you have done any of the following:
• Made UT Austin the recipient of your official test scores (i.e. GMAT/GRE/TOEFL/IELTS)
• Previously applied to UT Austin
• Previously studied at UT Austin
• Previously created a prospect profile with UT Austin

Obtain Transcripts

You must provide one copy of the official academic transcript from every senior college and graduate level program you have attended. Transcripts from junior and/or community colleges are not required. UT Austin requires transcripts that were issued less than one year ago.

Submit Test Scores

Official test scores must be submitted directly to The University of Texas at Austin and self-reported in the online Texas MBA application. McCombs requires either the GRE or the GMAT, and for international applicants, the TOEFL or IELTS. U.S. permanent residents are not required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score.

Submit official test scores to UT Austin using the following score codes:
• GMAT: 396-44-40
• GRE: 6882
• TOEFL: 6882
• IELTS: Scores are sent by hard-copy mail upon your request to The University of Texas at Austin - Graduate and International Admission Center (GIAC), P.O. Box 7608, Austin, TX 78713-7608
• PTE: Not accepted at McCombs

The date your official scores are sent to UT Austin should be no later than your application round deadline. GMAT and GRE test scores expire five years from the test date and TOEFL test scores expire two years from the test date.

When preparing to study for the GMAT exam, we highly recommend that you download GMATPrep® software, a free study tool with real GMAT questions and two full-length GMAT exams. It is a perfect start for gauging your readiness for the exam and acclimating to the computer adaptive format. To learn more and register to take the GMAT exam, visit GMAT.com

Test Retakes
It is recommended that you submit your application only after you are satisfied with your test scores. However, if you retake any exam and wish to have your new score included with your application, please email the Texas MBA at Houston program with your new score report.

Re-Applicants Official test scores are kept for one calendar year. If you have submitted an application beyond one year in the past, you may be required to re-submit certain credentials.

TOEFL or IELTS Waivers
The TOEFL and IELTS pertain only to international applicants who have submitted applications; U.S. citizens and permanent residents do not need to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score. A waiver of the TOEFL or IELTS is automatically granted (no request needed) if you are an international applicant and have earned an undergraduate degree in a country where the official language is English (not just an English-speaking institution or a country where English is spoken).

In order to request a TOEFL or IELTS waiver you must submit a Texas MBA application and meet one of the following conditions:
• You have lived and worked fulltime in the U.S. or in a country where English is the official language for at least two of the past four years.
• You hold a master's degree from a college or university located in the U.S. or from a country where English is the official language.
• You were educated solely in English for your undergraduate and/or prior graduate degree.

If you do not meet any of these conditions, you are required to submit the TOEFL or IELTS exam. If you meet the conditions above, please check the appropriate box requesting the waiver in the test score section of your application.

If you request a TOEFL or IELTS waiver, you may see these scores listed as an outstanding requirement in your online status check, as your waiver status is not updated instantaneously. Our admissions team will contact you directly during the admissions process if your waiver is not approved and you need to submit an English language proficiency test score.

While Applying

Fill Out Core Application Data

This core application information includes personal and background information, test scores, details about your education, and employment history.

Complete Application Essays

Essays are a critical means of assessing an applicant’s reasons and motivation for attending the McCombs School of Business, background and goals, communication skills and presentation skills. Strong applications convey careful research on McCombs and enthusiasm for the program.

Upload Resume and Transcripts to McCombs

You will be asked to upload your official transcripts twice during the application process: the first time will be to McCombs in the Education History Section of the online application and the second time will be to UT - GIAC after submitting your application and paying the fee. It is critical that you have blocked out social security numbers on these documents before uploading.

If documents are written in a language other than English, complete and official English translations must be sent together with the original language records.

Each transcript (mark sheet) should contain a complete record of studies at the institution from which it is issued, including the subjects taken and grades (marks) earned in each subject.

Request Letter of Recommendation

We require one professional recommendation, preferably from a person who has supervised your work and/or has assessed your performance during your career. An email to your recommender will be launched as soon as you save this section of the application. The email message to your recommender provides a link to the online recommendation form that is preferred by the admissions committee and linked directly to your application.

If your recommender does not receive the email, please ask them to check their spam or junk email box. You can monitor the status of your recommendation during and after submitting your application and you can resend notifications if necessary.

You have the option to submit a second letter of recommendation if you feel this will add value to your application.

After Applying

Pay Application Fee

Payment of the application fee is required in order for your application to be evaluated and a decision rendered. The application fee is $200. Within two business days of submission of your application, log onto the “What I Owe” UT payment website. Your fee status should reflect “Paid” within two business days of payment.

MBA applicants who are involved with the Teach for America program and candidates who are currently serving, or have served, in any of the five branches of the U.S. military may request a waiver of the application fee. Within the Personal Information section of the application you will be asked to verify your status. Upon submission of your application, your waiver will automatically be sent to the MBA program inbox for processing. Please allow at least 3 business days post-submission for your fee waiver to be processed and granted.

If you apply to more than one Texas MBA program or to an MBA and MSTC program, you are required to pay only the highest application fee. Please contact us after you submit the first application.

U.S. Permanent Residents
If you are a permanent resident, after you have submitted your application and paid the application fee, you will be able to upload a copy of the front and back of your permanent resident card to the GIAC document upload website. This link is only available after you have paid your application fee in full. Applicants who have applied for U.S. permanent residency but who do not yet have the Green Card in hand must apply as international students; should the Green Card arrive thereafter, the applicant may notify GIAC and the status will be changed to domestic applicant.

Upload Transcripts to UT – GIAC

You will be asked to upload your official transcripts twice during the application process: the first time will be to McCombs in the Education History Section of the online application and the second time will be to UT - GIAC after submitting your application and paying the fee. It is critical that you have blocked out social security numbers on these documents before uploading.

After you have submitted your application and paid the application fee, you will receive an email that contains a link to the GIAC document upload website where you will be able to upload transcripts. This link is only available after you have paid your application fee in full. Please do not mail official transcripts or paper copies of your transcripts before you are offered admission. Sending paper copies of documents you have uploaded will significantly delay the processing of your application. Former UT Austin students do not need to upload UT Austin transcripts.

Former UT Austin students are required to pay an additional $10 fee for transcripts. This amount will be billed to you through “What I Owe” and may or may not be invoiced at the same time as the application fee. You must pay this fee at the time it is billed. This will satisfy any future requirement for submitting official transcripts from your UT Austin coursework.

Monitor the status of your letters of recommendation, transcripts, official test scores, and application fee payment by checking the Texas MBA application status page. Please allow two business days for the checklist to be updated after submission but note that if any of these items show as outstanding or not received, your application decision may be delayed. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all required credentials are received.

Monitor Email for Potential Interview Invitation

Interviews are by invitation only. The admissions committee will review completed applications and invite selected candidates to interview. Interview invitations are sent via email and can arrive at anytime during the application round. Applicants who are invited to interview are requested to log in and schedule an interview within a week of receiving an invitation.

Monitor Application Status for Final Decision

Check the Texas MBA application status page for a decision regarding your admission to the program. All admissions decisions are final for the admissions cycle and we do not provide feedback on denied applications.